Feank seveeio and joseph d



IIII 1 u I m Ill ( Model.)

P. SEVERIO & J. D. CASE. MACHINE FOR SUBDIVIDING MATCH BLOCKS.

Patented Nov. 27,1833} PETERS wumm n o. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK SEVERIO AND JOSEPH D. CASE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MACHINE FOR SUBDlVlDlNG MATCH-BLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,453, dated November 27, 1888.

Application filed May 4, 1888.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK SEvERIo and JosEPH D. CAsE, both of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an lmprovementin Machines for Subdivid'ing Match-Blocks; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to the class of matchmaking machinery; and our invention consists inatable orframehavingacurvedtop,through which operate a gang of circular saws and over which the match-block passes. The table or frame has side rails, and an adjustable clamp for the match-block is guided by the rails and has a handle-plate for drawing it and the confined block over the top of the table and against the saws. These parts, together with details of construction, we shall hereinafter fully describe.

The ordinary sulphur match is made from blocks of wood, which, after being subjected to the splitting operation in one form or another, are put through the proper treatment, whereby their split surfaces are spread to sepa rate each splint down to the fibers or web which still holds them together at the base, so that the blocks assume a curved shape, their outer and inner surfaces being concentric and their ends and sides in radial planes. They are then dipped in proper chemicals and left to set. These blocks contain thousands of matches, and are too large to be put on the market in that shape; so it is usual to handle each block, counting the number of matches, generally in square sets, and then by hand with a separating-knife dividing these sets and forming thus small blocks, in which shape they are packed for sale.

Our invention has for its object the subdividing of these large blocks into the smaller ones, doing this by machinery accurately and avoiding all handling,which is very objectionable and injurious.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a more complete explanation, the figure is a perspective view of our machine.

A is the table or frame, having a curved top or bed, a, upon which is seated the curved lower surface of the block from which the splints are made.

B is a gang of saws mounted on a common shaft, b, and deriving rotation from suitable power, a treadle, C, and connections 0 being here shown for the sake of illustration, though any suitable power mechanism may be used. The saws B play up through an opening or openings in the top or bed of the table, and they are arranged at distances apart to separate the block into the required divisions containing a given number of matches.

D are the side rails on the table, curved, as shown, from the same center as the top or beda.

E is one jaw or plate of the clamp, and Eis the other. These are fitted to and are guided suitably by the side rails, D, and they are adjustably connected by the curved racks F, which are secured at one end to the rear clampjaw, E, and to the other clamp-jaw, E, by a pawl-bar, G, operated by a spring-controlled thumb-lever, H.

I is a handle-plate, hinged at one end, at i, to the top of the rear clamp-plate, E, and having at the other end a hand-hold or grip, i.

In order to return the clamp, we may have a weight, W, connected by a line or chain, w, with the rear clamp-jaw, E, and passing over guide-pulleys, as shown.

The operation is as follows: When ready to begin, the jaw E is back at its limit, the jaw E is run forward, and the handle plate I is thrown back. Then the match-block M is laid upon the curved bed a, with one end resting against the rear jaw, E. The forward jaw, E, is now run back up against its other end and secured in place by the engagement of its pawl-bar G with the racks F, so that the block is thus held firmly in the clamp. The handleplate is then dropped down over the chemically-prepared surface of the block. The operator then starts the saws, and at the same time grasping the hand-hold 1 draws the clamp withitsinclosed block forward over the curved bed, so that the block, coming in contact with the saws, has its web or base cut through into the required spaces in one direction. The weight W now returns the clamp and block, and the latter is released and turned at right angles to its first position. It is again clamped and once more drawn over the saws, so that its web is cut through in the other direction, and thus the proper subdivisions are made.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

I 1. In a machine for subdividing n1atchblocks, a table or frame having a curved top or bed upon which the match-block is seated, and a gang of saws operating through said top or bed, in combination with a clamp for holdingthe mateh'block and moving it over the curved top or bed ofthe table or frame,whereby it is operated upon by the saws, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for subdividing matchblocks, a table or frame having a curved top or bed upon which the match-block is seated, and curved side rails, and a gang of saws operating through the curved top or bed, in combination with a clamp fitted to and guided by the curved side rails for holding the matchblock and moving it over the curved top or bed into contact with the saws, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for subdividing matchblocks, a table or frame having side rails and a gang of saws operating through the table-top, in combination with the adjustable clamp fitted to the side rails for holding and moving the 1uatch-block into contact with the saws, con- I sisting of the jaw-p1ates E E, the rack-bars F,

4-. In a machine for subdividing matchblocks, a table or frame having side rails and a gang of saws operating through the tabletop, in combination with the adjustable clamp fitted to the side rails for holding and moving the match-block into contact with the saws, consisting of the jaw-plates E E, the rack-bars F, connected with the jaw-plate E, and thepawlbar and thumb-lever for eonnectingjaw-plate E with the rack-bars, and the handle-plate I, hinged to the jaw-plate Eaud passing over the match block, substantially as described.

5. A machine for subdividing match-blocks, comprising the table or frame having a curved top or bed and curved side rails, the gang of saws operating through the top or bed, the adjustable clamp for the match-block, consisting of the jaw-plates E E, fitted to and movable in the side rails, the curved racks connecting the jaw-plates, and the pawl-bar and lever for adjusting jaw-plate E, and the handle-plate hinged to the jaw-plate E and passing over the match-block, substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

FRANK snvnnio. JOSEPH D. CASE.

\Vitnesses:

(inc. '1. Knox, A. C. Unswon'ru. 

